Flush valve



' Oct. 8, 19210.` w. c. GROENIGER FLUSH VALVE Filed Feb. 3, 1959 lNvENToR Wi l ham C. Groenger d AG/ H15 (/ATTORNY Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT orties Application February 3, 1939, Serial No. 254,367

7 Claims.

This invention relates to valves, and more particularly to those types of valves which are known in the sanitary art as iiush valves.

Flush valves are employed in connection with various types of sanitary apparatus for initiating the flow of flushing liquid, e. g., water, therethrough, and for controlling the duration of ow. Types of ush valves commonly used employ an equalization chamber, into which minor ow of liquid is directed for maintaining the valve closed. Opening of the valve, so as to allow passage of flushing liquid therethrough, is accomplished by emptying the equalization chamber of its contained liquid. The time required for reiilling the equalization chamber determines the duration of flow of ilushing liquid through the valve into the sanitary apparatus.

It has Ybeen necessary in prior iiush valves of this type to maintain a minimum liquid pressure, in many cases five pounds or more per square inch, to eiect closing of the valve.

In the present invention it is a primary object to provide a ush valve so constructed and arranged as to close at substantially atmospheric pressure, that is, by the negligible pressure of a dribble flow or of a trail discharge.

It is a further object to so construct and arrange the equalization chamber and the valve mechanism that they may be removed,V easily and conveniently as a unit, from the outer casing of the valve structure.

An outstanding feature of the invention resides in the fact that the passage, aiordin'g minor flow of ilushing liquid into the equalization chamber, is disposed below the level of the passage for the inflow of flushing liquid to the valve.

A further feature resides in the employment of a float in the equalization chamber for eiecting closure of the valve when the equalization chamber is i'llled with liquid.

Further features and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, which illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. l represents a vertical section taken centrally through the flush valve.

Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 2.

The illustrated flush valve embodies the novel features of the invention in a preferred form of construction. It comprises a main casing l0 into which the valve mechanism ts. An upper casing H encloses the upper. portion of the Valve mechanism. A lateral portion of the upper casing ll denes an iniiow passage l2, and has a threaded socket end lla adapted for connection with water supply piping (not shown). The upper casing H is removably secured to the main casing lil, as by means of machine screws, see 5 I3, which pass through an outwardly extending flange portion Hb of the upper casing ll and through an interposed gasket I4 into the upper rim Ia of the main casing Ill. The main casing lil has a lower portion lill; which defines an outl0 let passage and opening l5. Piping, indicated at I6, may be connected with the outlet passage l5 by a suitably packed liquid tight joint, such as that indicated generally at il.

The upper rim ma of main casing it] has an l5 internally extending circumferential ange Hic, spaced downwardly from the top thereof, to receive the outwardly extending circumferential iiange Ia of the cupped receptacle i8, and thus to suspend such receptacle within the main casing Hl. The cupped receptacle IS is of smaller diameter than `the diameter of main casing I0, and, thus, when positioned within the main casing IB, provides passage llll for the down-flow, of flushing liquid through the main casing. Cupped receptacle I8` may be conveniently removed, together with its contents, by the simple expedient of removing upper casing I l from main casing lil. For a purpose hereinafter made clear, the upper portion of the walls of receptacle I8 are ported, see I8-I,Fig. 2, below the circumferential ange l'8a. l

The cupped-receptacle i8 provides the equalization chamber I9, into which av minor ow of water from inflow passage l2 is conducted through movable valve mechanism. The movable Valve mechanism comprises a piston mounted on a oat which is free to rise and descend within the equalization chamber according to the level of liquid therein. The piston includes a central stem 2i! having a plate-like head 20a, from the vperipheral margins of which rise spaced guide members 2Gb. A plate element 2|, having an upturned peripheral edge which forms a surface recess into which fits a valve seating washer 22, of any of the types of compressible materials commonly used for the purpose, as, for instance, ber composition, is strung onto the stem 20, together with a cup leather 23, and is 50 pressed tightly against the undersurface of the platelike head 26a by means of the plate-nut 24 threaded on the stem 2li and bearing against the undersurface of the cup leather 23. The float 25 is strung on the stem 20 below plate-nut 24 and 55 is secured in place by means of nut 26 threaded on the end of stem 20.

The stem 20 has an open-ended passage 21, eX- tending through its length, through which the lower end portion 28a of pin 28 extends. Pin 28 depends from resilient securement in the top of upper casing II. Its upper portion has a diameter which is greater than is the diameter of passage 21, and tapers into the lower end portion 28a, see 28h, to form a stopper valve for seating in the coordinatively configurated upper end of passage 21. The lower end portion 28a of pin 28 is lesser in diameter than passage 21, and thus permits flow of water through passage 21 when the stopper valve portion 28h isunseated.

Upper casing II hasan external boss IIb formed in its top wall above passage 21 of stem 28. Threaded through the boss IIb is a hollow screw element 29. The upper portion of pin 28 has an externally threaded ring 29-I slidably mounted thereon, and' has its top end headed to form a limit stop. A coil spring 3G is disposed within the hollow of screw element 29, and ring 29-I is threaded into the lower end of screw element 29 so that the coil spring is compressible between the headed top end of pin 28 and the closed top of screw element 29. As illustrated, screw element 29 is adapted for vertical adjustment in the boss IIb, whereby the position of pin 28 relative to the movable valve mechanism is also adjustable.

Inlow passage I2 of the upper casing II leads into the hollow of the upper casing proper and turns downwardly, openingdirectly into the movable valve mechanism. Its outlet is defined by the depending annular wall IIc which forms the valve seat for the movable valve mechanism. It should be noted that the valve seat, and thus the movable valve mechanism, is at all times disposed at the bottom of, and preferably below, the inflow passage to insure filling of the equalization chamber under conditions of a dribble flow or trail discharge through the inflow passage.

The bottom of the cupped receptacle I 8 is formed, preferably centrally, with a depressed portion |817, into which an annular valve seat 3| is positioned, and with an outflow passage |80, lined by a tubular insert 32. Vertically disposed and internally extending. ribs, as at 33, may be provided at the bottom of the cupped vessel I 8 for limiting the descent of the float and of the movable valve mechanism relative to vthe outflow passage I 8c.

Controlling the flow of water from the equalization chamber through outflow passage IBC, is a mushroom type valve element 34 having the mushroom head 34a whose peripheral rim is normally kept in pressure contact with the annular valve seat 3| by the weight of water within the equalization chamber. The stem 34h depends through outflow passage I8c into adjacency with the stem35a of actuating plunger 35 for the tipping of mushroom type valve 34 from its seat 3l when it is desired to initiate the flushing operation.

The actuating plunger 35 is preferably manually operated according to customary practice. The main casing I0 may have an internally extending internally threaded bossy IIId formed in its lower portion. Threaded in the boss Illd and closing its outer opening is a thimble 36 through which articulatively extends a manually operable handle 31. The stem 35a of plunger 35 extends through a suitable packed washer element 38, tightly clamped in place by thimble 36. The head 35h of plunger 35 is normally urged against the rounded head 31a of handle 31 by coil spring 39. As is customary in mechanism of the type, manipulation of handle 31 in any direction pushes plunger 35 inwardly so that its stem 35a displaces stem 34h of mushroom type valve 34 to upwardly tip, and, thus, to open, the Valve 34.

Assuming the equalization chamber to be filled with water to such an extent, as is illustrated, that oat 25 forces the movable valve mechanism upwardly so that seating washer 22 is pressed into contact with the annular valve seat IIc, no water fiows from inflow passage I2 through ports I8-I into the main casing I0. Under such circumstances, stopper valve element 28h may be fully seated or only approximately seated in the upper end of passage 21, and mushroom type valve element 34 is fully seated, preventing flow of water fro-m the equalization chamber I9.

Wheny it is desired to initiate iiow of flushing liquid into the sanitary apparatus to be flushed, han'dle 31 may be manually manipulated to tip mushroom valve element 34, and, thus, to empty equalization chamber I9 of its contained liquid. Thereupon, float 25, deprived of its supporting liquid, drops to its rest position on ribs 33, and carries with it its associated movable valve mechanism. vThe valve proper being thus opened, flushing liquid flows from inflow passage I2 into the upper part of the equalization chamber, thence outwardly, through ports III-I, into and through the main casing I8 to pass through outflow passage I5 into discharge piping I6. Meanwhile, a minor ow of the liquid passes down through passage 21 to gradually reiill equalization chamber I9 and to thus gradually raise float 25 and its associated valve mechanism until the valve proper is closed. It should be particularly noted that the minor ow through passage 21 may occur under conditions of mere gravity flow, i. e., in the absence of hydrostatic head on the liquid entering through inflow passage I2. Thus, the equalization chamber refills even though there be merely a dribble flow or trail discharge into inow passage I2.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention here illustrated and described merely exemplies possible constructions pursuant to the generic principles set forth herein and in the claims that follow. Many structural changes may be made without departing from the generic scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a valve, passage for the inflow of liquid; an equalization chamber disposed below said inflow passage; restricted passage means communicating with substantially the lowest level of said inflow passage and leading into said equalization chamber; passage for the outflow of liquid communicating with said inflow passage; movable valve mechanism adapted to open and close communication between said inflow passage and said outiiow passage; seating means for saidy movable valve mechanism; means responsive to the level of liquid within Said equalization ychamber for controlling movement of said movable valve mechanism; and means for lowering the level of liquid within said equalization chamber.

2. Apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein valve .means is provided for substantially closing the restricted passage when the movable valve mechanism is seated.

3. Apparatus, as recited in'claim 1, wherein the means responsive to the level of liquid within the equalization chamber is a float, and wherein the means for lowering the level of liquid within the equalization chamber is a valved passage which leads downwardly into the outflow passage.

4. In a valve, passage for the inflow of liquid; an equalization chamber disposed below said inow passage; a float operable within said equalization chamber; movable Valve mechanism carried by said float; passage for the outow of liquid communicating with said inflow passage; seating means for said movable valve mechanism so constructed and arranged that, when said float is at a high level in said equalization chamber, said movable valve mechanism seats and closes communication between said inflow passage and said outflow passage; restricted passage means through said movable valve mechanism establishing communication between substantially the lowest level of said inflow passage and said equilization chamber; and means for lowering the level of liquid within said equalization chamber.

5. Apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein valve means is provided for substantially closing the restricted passage when the movable valve mechanism is seated.

6. In a flush valve, a main casing having an open upper end; a cupped receptacle disposed upright within said main casing, said receptacle providing an equalization chamber for the Valve and being so constructed and arranged as to be removable from said main casing through the said upper end thereof; an upper casing removably secured to the upper part of said main casing, said upper casing embodying a passage for inow of liquid to the flush Valve; a valve seat associated with said inflow passage; valve mechanism movably disposed within said equalization chamber for cooperation with said valve seat in controlling flow from said iniiow passage through the flush Valve; means for directing flow into the space between the walls of said receptacle and said main casing when said movable valve mechanism is unseated; means controlling minor flow through said movable valve mechanism directly into said equalization chamber; valve means for controlling ow of liquid from said equalization chamber; and an opening for the outflow of liquid formed in the lower portion of said main casing.

7. A flush valve comprising in combination, a main casing having an open upper end; a cupped receptacle disposed upright within said main casing, said receptacle providingan equalization chamber for the valve and being so constructed and arranged as: to be spaced apart from the walls of said' main casing and as to be removable from said main casing through the said upper end thereof; an upper casing removably secured to the upper part of said main casing, said upper casing embodying a passage for the inflow of liquid to the said equalization chamber and to the said main casing, and further embodying a substantially -annular portion above said equalization chamber forming .a seat for movable valve mechanism and providing a downward extension of said inilow pass-age; ports in the upper portion of said cupped receptacle opening into said main casing; movable valve mechanism slidably mounted in said equalization chamber and adapted to seat against said annular portion of the upper casing for closing communication between said inflow passage and said main casing; a float associated with said movable valve mechanism; restricted passage means establishing communication between said inow passage and said equalization chamber; means for loweringv the level of liquid within said equalization chamber; and an opening for the outflow of liquid disposed in the lower portion of said main casing.

WILLIAM C. GROENIGER. 

